Installing Front Crank Pulley Rope Seal in the Timing Cover

Posted by Gordon Biggar on March 10, 1998 at 21:29:21

Every time that I think I'm on the homestretch to a completed engine rebuild, I seem to run into a roadblock!
The standard rope seal for the front timing cover appears to be about one-half inch in diameter.Even after soaked in engine oil, this seal does not permit me to line up the bolt holes in the timing cover with those in the block.I have tried various techniques for compressing the seal (e.g., using a socket and wooden mallet), all to no avail.
If I bolt the cover in place without the seal, I have about .030 inches of clearance between the machined groove surface and the crank pulley.Of course, this is a function of the thickness of the shims under the main bearing caps.Mine average .018-.020".
Fortunately, I saved the old seal.It appears to be of the exact same design and diameter.However, one side of it appears to have been neatly (machine?) trimmed, giving it a flat surface that lies next to the crank pulley.(I had no front seal oil leak prior to the teardown.)One or two folks have told me that one shouldn't trim these rope seals, because they will then deteriorate over time.Regardless, no matter of pounding that I have done has been successful in compressing this seal sufficiently.
Is it unusual to have a problem in getting the timing cover to line up properly, and is there any harm in trimming the seal, perhaps using some sort of cutting machine?
Thanks for any thoughts that might be forthcoming!
Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas

Follow Ups:
Re: Installing Front Crank Pulley Rope Seal in the Timing Cover Joe March 11, 1998 at 08:02:13(2)
Re: Installing Front Crank Pulley Rope Seal in the Timing Cover - Reply to Joe Gordon Biggar March 11, 1998 at 11:10:05(1)
Re: Installing Front Crank Pulley Rope Seal in the Timing Cover - Reply to Joe Joe March 11, 1998 at 14:14:51(0)
Re: Installing Front Crank Pulley Rope Seal Marco Tahtaras March 10, 1998 at 22:42:41(0)

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